Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-24

Will THIS eAplauatlOn. our lnNtStigatlou
of this subject, however, has not enabled
US TO name any other person as the father
of this child. Since the condition of this
female patient was ascertained, additional
regulations have been made against the
association of patients of different sexes
except in the presence Of an attendant.
We trust these regulations on their enforce
ment may prevent any other occurrence OF
this sort.
Hospital property aud supplies are
used for private benefit in manner which
is at least careless, Officers of the Hospit-
al, with the exception Of the druggist, Oc-
casionGlly use as a beverage liquor belong.
ing to the Hospital, and treat their friends
to it. Some Of the Directors drink the
liquor in the drug room, and some of these
living at a distance have taken bottles OF
whisky home. Local Directors have re-
ceived small amounts Of the products OF
the garden, and officers occasionally make
presents of such products. Washing i
some times done at the Hospital for per.
sons living in Weston, aud the
horses and omnibus belonging to the
Hospital have been used to
convey persons to political conventions NJ
distance. These matters are small in
themselves, but breed decentralization and
scandal, and We express the hope that the
Board of Directors will see that such
practices cease.
THE persistent use of the liquor at the
Hospital is remarkable. Especial atten-
tion was directed To this matter at the
time of the investigation of lSs2, but moth
ing was done by the Superintendent Ia
correct the evil. We believe that the
druggist has done what he could in that
direction, though in one instance, here
after 10 be mentioned, his action WAS not
wise. The druggists testimony was,
speaking approximately, that there were
dispensed TO the patients from three 10 five
or six gallons OF whisky monthly, and
that there were used from two and three
to five gallons monthly in other ways,
which he could not definitely specify, and
of which no record was kept. Upon
closer examination, we find that even u
larger proportion was wasted or misused
I'VE find that Ia gallons of whisky
were bought in the year from October LIST,
1885, to September Both, 1856. If sixty
gallons of this were dispensed to patients
according to the druggists estimate, there
remain | II gallons, or nearly two-thir,is
OF the whole amount, to be accounted for.
Once some person unknown allowed the
whisky To run out until il ran through the
floor into the basement. At another time,
four gallons of wine were wasted in the
same way. II is said that some whisky
was used for culinary and other purposes.
Making due allowance for these, the waste
or improper Use of liquor has been great,
and the Directors, as well as the Superin.
tendent, are in fault for having permitted
it, Ii WAS learned at one time that
whisky was being stolen from the
bottles prepared for the attendants to take
To their halls and il was suggested by the
Superintendent that whisky had been
stolen from his own room and that he
had thought of setting trap by putting
some CrOton oil in the whisky. Acting on
tins hint the druggist put sixteen drops OF
CrOtOn oil into pint of whisky and left il
ut a place from which it was carried of by
some person unknown. We think the eN-
pertinent was dangerous and unbecominG
To an officer of such an institution. Some
other method of preventing such thefts
should he devised.
John s. Mitchell, night watchman, is
also Inspector of Beef. He has been in the
habit of receiving presents of meat for the
use Of his family from contractors furnish
ing meat TO the Hospital, or from their
agents. When the matter is brought 10
his attention he does not seem TO be aware
Of any improperly in doing 80 and ex-
presses his purpose to continue the same
practice unless forbidden by the Superin-
tendent The attention of the Board 0i
Directors is invited to this matter.
I'VE have heard considerable evidence
upon the charge of incompctency and neg
lect of duty on the part of Joseph Clifton,
Chief Engineer of the Hospital There is
difference Of opinion among us AZ to
whether the charge has been sustained or
not. We are all agreed, however, that the
subject il an important one, and we recon-
mend that the Board of Directors inquire
farther into the matter and at once, and if
they find the said Clifton incom-
petent or neglectful Of duty Ia
discharge him and fill his place
with an engineer about whose competency
and faithfulness there can be no doubt.
The large amount Of personal property be
longing to the State at the Hospital re-
quires a rigid system Of accounting there
for, which is not the case now. The gen
eral kitchen is not large enough for the
wants Of the Hospital and should be in
creased aud supplied with increased facili-
ties. A diet, stove and cook should be
supplied for the special purpose Of prepar-
ing diet for the sick.
The laundry is too small. IL should
be enlarged and drying room sufficiently
large to he heated by steam added thereto.
The physicians should write their or
ders for extra diet instead Of giving them
verbally. As now. Prescriptions should be
written, numbered, filed and preserved for
reference instead OF, az now, being destroyed
after being filed and this for many reasons
with the exception OF one ward we
found the hospital patients diDing-rOoms
and dOrmitOries clean and well ventilated.
In the exception mentioned il is proper to
saythat the principal attendant In that ward
had been sent ont the night before in search
Ofan escaped patient, and also that the build
ing in which this ward was, was not origi-
nally constructed tO contain patients.
The population Of the Hospital il now at
least SOO. The executive force in the do
mestic department Is no larger nov than
when there were not more than One-third
the present number in the Hospital. JUS
tice 10 those engaged requires an increase
in this force, their duties being too numer-
Gus and too onerous TO the present staff in
that department.
There should be arched fIOors under
the water closets 10 prevent leakage in the
basement and preventing the rotting away
Of wooden floors.
I'VE found the appearance OF the at
teDdants neat aud clean, especially in the
female department and that all are polite
and courteous in their demeanor.
Some members Of the Committee have
felt that more should have been said upon
some OF the things considered in this re-
port, but, upon reflection, have concluded
that as the recommendations Of this unan-
imous report will doubtless be carried out,
and the existing evils thereby cured and
it is neither necessary nor judicious TO say
more now.
I'VE append a statement OF the expenses
L.